how to write a foreword for a strategic plan

endobj This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). These indicators will show you what success looks like and ensure accountability. &*d8Egz\co/{G You should include the following sections: An execution plan that identifies who manages and monitors the plan, An evaluation plan that shows how you plan to measure the successes and setbacks that come with implementation. Strategic plans are not static documents they change as new circumstances arise, both internally and externally. Third, figure out what these stakeholders want from you. [Facilitators] need to hold the conversations open long enough to get enough ideas out there to be able to make wise choices.. We call on the continued support of the entire University community to make this plan a success. But, if I have just one single line, I would say: 6. endobj If you have access to a plan from a previous year, see how your department did in meeting its goals. Richard Branson wrote the foreword for this new book on self-improvement and learning to live boldly: Ive always had a love for adventure, and Ive been blessed to share many of them with my family and friends. Think of goal writing as a formula: Action + detail of the action + a measurable metric + a deadline = goal. 2 0 obj 18 0 obj For example, tracking visitors to a website, customers completing a contact form, or the number of proposals that close with deals are all performance indicators that keep you on track toward achieving your goals. Bryson says that strong facilitators often ask the following questions: What is the situation we find ourselves in? More than one objective can support one goal. The first step of any strategic planning starts with . Every KPI must have some sort of measure. Thats for so called second-tier accounting firms. (updated July 17, 2021). There are both internal and external values looking at your employees and coworkers, as well as customers and outside stakeholders. This section is the bulk of your strategic plan. One tip: Try to avoid jargon and generic terms; for example, words like maximize and succeed lose their punch. [ 15 0 R] Move faster, scale quickly, and improve efficiency. Be prepared to adjust. Collect and review information to help make the upcoming strategic decisions. % For example, your goal might be: Increase total revenue by 5 percent in three product areas by the third quarter of 2020. Integrity 5. By utilizing a more logical, systematic, and objective approach, these organizations are more proactive than reactive in shaping their own future. Then let your strategic planning committee review it. how they demonstrate expertise in the subject, how they have already helped other people with their knowledge, their motivation for going deep into this subject. She recommends coming up with a kind of glossary that defines the terms for your team. The goals can be broad, but dont forget to include action items and timeframes to help you reach your goals. Thanks for reading, Susan. Just as the preface is designed to get the plan read, the first few. But it also includes the specific actions you are going to take to achieve your goal. Instead, strategic planning experts use many names for the different sections of a strategic plan. A summary of it should go into your strategic plan. The following sections walk you through how to write common sections of a strategic plan. Formal planning has helped mobilize and motivate organizations in the achievement of goals and objectives. ElA)Z{%e,M |+a12%7(sF_bnXg_ devoid of strategy, and often not even a plan. endobj Element #3: Marathon Thinking. the thesis serves as a bridge between student and working life. The vision should be clearly attainable if you follow the goals and objectives you outline later in your strategic planning plan. Thus, they can concentrate on the process and ask difficult questions. You can use many models and formats to create your strategic plan (read more about them in this article). \u|;co|=c6~pLN$HG$peQ?oDAV-z|N;D%K"=YH?qw:R;gEiyWG'sXTSG{H =X>h)=I&u* 9l Decide who should get a physical copy of the entire plan. Tactic 1.1.1: Identify date and venue. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Similarly, the University aims to maintain a world-class infrastructure that supports our academic endeavours in an information age. Since September 11, 2001, the United States has established a strong and sophisticated counterterrorism enterprise to reduce the threat of large-scale terrorist attacks on the homeland. endobj The goal of the plans distribution is to make sure everyone understands their role in making the plan successful. Do not abandon this at the first sight of the unexpected. That said, make the effort to edit and refine your mission statement. endobj Think of the acronym SMART when writing objectives: Make them specific, measurable, achievable, realistic/relevant, and time-bound. Company core values, sometimes called organizational values, help you understand what drives the company to do what it does. Its just what works for your organization. If done correctly, your strategic plan will engage and align stakeholders around your companys priorities. Strategy 1.1: Implement an annual client conference. When writing your performance indicators, pay attention to the following: Define how often you need to report results. While five years is often the strategic planning sweet spot, some organizations choose to create three-year plans. Department of Tourism 1 STRATEGIC PLAN 2015/16 - 2019/2020 (2016/17 REVIEW) TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Foreword by the Minister of Tourism Message by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Introduction and Strategic Overview by the Director-General Official sign-off PART A: STRATEGIC OVERVIEW 1. After extensive consultations with various stakeholders of the University, a new Strategic Plan for 2016-2022 has been formulated. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Let me take this opportunity to thank all of them for giving us so much food for thought during the process of consultation and drafting of the Strategic Plan. Flattery has no room in the foreword. It should encourage and inspire employees while setting your companys direction. Build those checkpoints into the plan. Every day I see people doing great things in the world. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Every organization is slightly different.. t3j4i|AdA~m;z*sV:|6Mc^A^BVeG~a4?=O39b(mivM[jk7wO=94A4f]zlx=H'X>/JjZ9[nsW;(T~-)vFFmqZ\?J"Qf2 Work smarter and more efficiently by sharing information across platforms. These are the key decision-making criteria that stakeholders use when interacting with your business. Sometimes, its a good idea to hire an external party to help facilitate the strategic planning process. Who are your target customers? What is a Foreword? These steps can help you with this process: 1. Drawing on over 30 years of experience coaching and mentoring business leaders, Peter Duncan and Robert Bradford have written an invaluable guide to your success as a business leader. As it does within a business, this statement will help guide you in making future decisions. Note that objectives can cover several areas. You should be able to defend your plan and reinforce its key areas. Some writers describe their first meeting, or their first impression of the author. Get actionable news, articles, reports, and release notes. Below is additional advice for personal strategic plans: There are things you can control and things you cannot. Pay attention to your company culture and the readiness you have as a group, and adapt the planning process to fit accordingly. The Strategic Planning Cycle. Unlike other parts of your strategic plan that are designed to be reviewed and edited periodically, your companys mission statement should live as is for a while. Your email address will not be published. A foreword is a short introductory portion of a non-fiction book, typically written by someone other than the author. Joseph J.Y. To fix that, try a six step process: first, identify key stakeholders. Be prepared for what you discover about yourself. For example, your ideal customer five years ago might not be the same as the current standard or the one you want in five years. Owner/CEO, Strategy Leader. Share your credentials, establishing why you have the authority to comment on the subject. So, take your time here to clearly define your target customer. Tactic 1.1.3: Identify and invite speakers. (my father passed in 2006). If you need assistance writing a comprehensive implementation plan for your organization, this article can guide you through the process. At GAD we believe that those skills can help governments in highly . 3 Strategic Plan 2015 - 2020 Foreword . You may think that this will be easy. The answer (or answers) to the first question where are we now? Include the plan in new employee onboarding. Your research might show you should not go in a direction you might want to. Establish your planning team and schedule. All Rights Reserved Smartsheet Inc. Create a simple one-page view that's both easy to follow and communicate. Part of this initiative includes leveraging our wealth of experience in liberal arts education and our research excellence to collaborate with eminent universities, offer more distinct degree programmes, provide research opportunities for outstanding students across the world, and elevate our reputation in the international arena. They set out your priorities and initiatives, and therefore are critical elements and define what your plan will accomplish. For some managers, this seems initially like putting the cart before the horse. Hassle-Free Documents With Template.net's Free Printable Sample Templates. Sometimes the consensus can take priority over what is clear. Copyright 2019. It is important to be honest with yourself. The third step requires you to work out what your organization wants from each key stakeholder group for your organization to prosper. Develop a Shared Vision 6. Configure and manage global controls and settings. Although most people asked to write a foreword already have a strong platform, assume that not every reader will know who you are. [If you dont do a thorough industry analysis], youre doing your planning with your head in the sand. Byson says the facilitator can be in-house or external, but they need experience. Focus on the ones that allow you to zero in on what is critical for your companys success. <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 720 540] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> your key stakeholders. Below the red dotted line are the implementation pieces. This resource will serve as a step-by-step overview of the strategic planning process. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Ill let you in on the six-step technique I have developed over many years, working with clients and in teaching my public seminars on strategic planning. Explain the solution's value. In order to implement these strategic aims, we need to develop an enabling environment in which our human, financial and physical resources are appropriately allocated and deployed to help us attain sustainable excellence in teaching, research and knowledge exchange. Move faster with templates, integrations, and more. Next, gather your planning team. Here are the top six key components for building a killer strategic plan for your business. Toyota and McDonalds are two that I deal with that fall into that category. How to Write a Foreward. <> Learn how the Smartsheet platform for dynamic work offers a robust set of capabilities to empower everyone to manage projects, automate workflows, and rapidly build solutions at scale. Goals form the basis of your strategic plan. Take, for example, the international accounting firm KPMG. Its imperative to make sure the mission statement accurately fits the organization. Plan projects, automate workflows, and align teams. Develop Strategic Goals and Objectives 7. The following are illustrative examples of a strategy plan. Over the years, Lingnan University's outstanding teaching, learning, scholarship and community engagement have demonstrated the values of its liberal arts education in Hong Kong's higher education sector. <> This was a very helpful site. Recognize that no matter what you decide, there is no certainty in the result once you embark on implementation via an action plan and scorecard. This planning assures a deep consideration of the audience, the most effective structure, and persuasive content. Share the company description with everyone in your organization. It often can be helpful to have a really good facilitator to organize and pursue strategic conversations, says Professor John M. Bryson, McKnight Presidential Professor of Planning and Public Affairs at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota and author of Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement. The answers to this question help you outline the many routes you can take to achieve your vision and match your strengths with opportunities in the market. Your team should be able to easily understand and repeat the companys vision statement. Most books do not need a foreword. Flattery has no room in the foreword. Early on in the process, you need to talk about what you are doing and why and how you are doing it. This problem is the lack of an effective method a systematic or established procedure to undertake something, step by step. By writing a foreword, a person expresses their approval or support for the research and its author. Your entire organization and stakeholders should be able to remember and understand your goals. An excerpt is shown below to show you how Mike describes his relationship with Gary: It has been my pleasure to know Gary Wiens since 1985 in a friendship that has gone from mere acquaintance to partnership in ministry. In this section, youll learn a lot about your company and the people who work with you. :). After extensive consultations with various stakeholders of the University, a new Strategic Plan for 2016-2022 has been formulated. I want to keep it simple, so organizations can be successful in achieving [the strategic plan], McNerney explains. Develop the Strategic Plan I wanted to see the examples as well but they were unavailable. Avoid broad statements that could apply to any company or industry. In many cases, the sections of a strategic plan build on each other, so you may have to write them in order. May I thank you heartily for taking an interest in the future of CUHK and the communities we serve. ASPs Stockmal has some questions for you to ask yourself about picking performance indicators. No matter what, do not dwell on setbacks and remember to celebrate successes. :). 2. Strategic plannning software designed for leaders of mid-sized organizations to align, design, execute, and report on their strategic plan. You can take many approaches to the process and consider differing ideas about what needs to go into it, but some general concepts stand. Using these terms, strategies describe an approach or method you will use to achieve an objective. It doesn't hurt to immediately dive into a story to draw the reader in and explain why they should care about this book. But first, let us briefly discuss what a foreword is and why and where we should write a foreword. A plan is no good if it sits on a shelf and nobody reads it. If you want a one-page executive summary, this template can help you decide what information to include. It was seat-of-the-pants stuff. If employees cannot accurately articulate what you do to others, you might miss out on opportunities. This has really helped me as I have been struggling to do this for a very good friend. And in a small business, like a convenience store, it initially is: customers, employees, suppliers, and owners. Thank you, Yen! 14 0 obj In this article, youll learn the basics of writing a strategic plan, what to include, common challenges, and more. Some of these effects include: A strategic plan can inspire & unite the whole school community In any case, describe the book and why the author is the best person to write this book. The vision is the highest-ordered statement of the desired future or state of what you want your business to achieve, McNerney explains. For example, a substance abuse prevention coalition is trying to keep teens from starting to drink or use drugs, and proving the coalitions methods work is often difficult to quantify. focussed on delivering the Government's strategic agenda and meeting community needs, with the agility to deliver consistently, responsively and sustainably. Your goals are where you want to go. endobj For example, if a vision statement is No child goes to bed hungry, the accompanying mission would be to provide food banks within the city limits. Overcoming adversity is one way for companies to grow. It is written only by someone extremely well-known and highly-regarded. As a research-led university we shall continue to engage in cutting-edge research, especially in those interdisciplinary areas identified as our strengths, not only to make an intellectual impact internationally but also to benefit humankind in addressing challenges and societal needs locally, regionally and globally. Positioning is a fundamental step of the strategic planning process. A tactic is a specific activity or project that achieves the strategy, which, in turn, helps achieve the objective. Mission and vision statements are both important, but they serve very different purposes. Take the example of a dairy cooperative I worked with recently. Write in the present tense, avoid jargon, and be clear and concise. The fourth step is to identify what these stakeholder groups want from you. Business architecture is important, which Stockmal says is building the capabilities the organization needs to fulfill its strategy. He adds that nothing happens if there is no budget workers to do the work necessary to drive change. HBR Learnings online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Strategy Planning and Execution. 11 0 obj Performance indicators are not always financial, but they must be quantifiable. Key performance indicators (KPIs) can show you how your business is progressing. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Usually, somebody with greater known expertise or authority on the subject writes the foreword, lending credibility to a lesser-known author. If you distribute it outside of your company, you might want to attach a confidentiality waiver. x_k0 iXeQ_V kuk c&uClo++Jb:={Cw^zpu#2bh|eu/4qar8==8@wRyR#W{7FkXzn%8vPpo&20X2l*{Ae6* Values How do we make sure that your foreword has an impact? Some writers like to offer a brief summary, while others prefer to highlight their favorite parts of the book. Select From Our Collection of Small Business Plans, Non-Profit Business Strategic Plans, One-Page Healthcare Education Plans, School Department Budget Plans, and Many More. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. What do they have in common? Keep your focus on what you can act on. A strategic plan is like a road map that gets you where you are aiming to be. Outline the recommended solution. Manage and distribute assets, and see how they perform. The preface is the front matter written by the author to introduce the book, usually explaining their motivation and inspiration for writing the book. He always writes summaries last, after he has all the data and information he needs for the plan. Readiness assessment. There is no set time period for a strategic plan, but five years can be a sweet spot. One of the first steps is committing to a process, then determining how you're going to do it," McNerney explains. It has been said that the shortest distance between two points is clarity, and this strategic planning cycle brings about clarity. Some organizations just have one., If you choose to have only one statement, McNerney offers some advice: Any statement you have, if you have just one, needs to include what [you do], how [you do it], why [you do it], and who you do it for., During the planning process, these key statements might change. <> Now that you understand how it works best, you can move forward to the next phase of your book writing: preparing the front matter and moving closer to publishing! Strategic planning is often continuous for nonprofits. In addition to your strategic plan, I recommend you develop a comprehensive marketing plan describing how you will attract prospects, convert them to paying customers . You need to have flexibility both on the plan content and in the process.. The post was very helpful because I was asked by the PhD students i supervised to write a foreword for her book. Step 2 - Introduction. Translate enterprise ambitions into a strategic plan your function can actually use. Menu State of the Service Report. Thank you so much. Focus on one strategy at a time. For more information about writing an effective executive summary, a checklist, and free templates, read this article. A strategic plan is a key guiding document for any school, and can have far-reaching effects. Isolating the target customer has massive implications, including in other stakeholder groups. 16 0 obj Look at each person separately and consider their core competencies, strengths, capabilities, and weaknesses. Below are questions to ask your team as you craft your vision statement: What impact do we want to have on our community and industry? You can think of them this way: Goals: Goals are broad statements about what you want to achieve as a company, and theyre usually qualitative. Create Awesome Documents and Visuals With Template.net. You want to make sure the plans align. In this post, well take a look at how to write a foreword if youve been asked to write one for a book, plus real foreword examples. How do we link our purposes to our capabilities? If you're the one writing it, a clear step-by-step process makes it even simpler. endobj Dont feel pressured to put anything and everything into this section executive summaries should only be about one to two pages long and include the main points of the strategic plan. Many companies values sound like meaningless jargon, so take the time to figure out what matters to your company and push beyond generic language. iBossWell, Inc.s McNerney reiterates that there are not hard and fast definitions for the terms goals and objectives, as well as many other strategic planning concepts. And while this may sound obvious, do not ignore what your planning process tells you. If an ally will write a short note of endorsement (or a full-scale Foreword or Preface), we can use the best lines in several ways: Foreword vs. A strategy plan, more commonly known as a strategic plan, is a list of strategic goals together with an action plan to achieve each goal. Some should go out five to 10 years, others will be shorter some significantly so. In addition to the basic sections that go into any strategic plan, when forecasting five years into the future, put one- and three-year checkpoints into the plan so you can track progress intermittently. <> Its the reason you exist or what you do.. Get a free cross-functional project template. They function as a description of where you want to go, and they can address both the short and long term. It was a national distributor of milk and other dairy products and in it, farmers occupied two roles. In any case, long-term thinking needs to be an essential ingredient of . The more that people feel they play an important part in the organizations success, they more successful you will be in reaching your goals of your strategic plan. Instant Acknowledgement Generator [For School Projects], Acknowledgement For School Projects [7 Examples]. Strategic Planning first made a significant appearance on the radar screen of managers in the early 1970's. However, when it first appeared as an organizational technique, the concept of strategic planning was received with considerable skepticism from some corners. You need to make sure someone is good, so there needs to be a vetting process, he says. Leadership Summary ABC Company is a web application that provides PDF templates to the users. Most of your resources will fall into three categories: money, people, and assets. It can even involve immersing yourself in the stakeholder experience by going through it, e.g. Too often, organizations simply throw out words that they think will sound good in a glossy marketing brochure but have little relevance to the real world. <> Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies. A foreword is optional. One of the purposes of the foreword is to build the author up for the readers.